Overdose Deaths Increased in Pregnant and Postpartum Women from Early 2018 to Late 2021

NIDA | Overdose deaths rose markedly between January to June 2018 and July to December 2021 among 10- to 44-year-old girls and women who were pregnant or pregnant within the previous 12 months. [...] Overdose mortality more than tripled among those aged 35 to 44, from 4.9 deaths per 100,000 with a live birth in the 2018 period to 15.8 in 2021. Findings suggest that, while treatment is available to pregnant women with substance use disorders, significant barriers–such as penalization, stigma, discrimination, and limited socioeconomic resources–may obstruct the path to care. Cont.